Published on 25th Oct 2011, written by Alex Voicu for Professional Graphics - Last updated: 8th Dec 2011

Even if it is quite difficult to establish whether or not Ceilingcat implements a stochastic decision process (to play or not to play dice, that is the question!), it's pretty clear that there are lots of surprises in store for those of us who are not omniscient omnipotent cheezburger eating cosmic beings. And it is one such chance governed event, both fortuitous and fortunate, that has led to the birth of this particular concatenation of words that skims dangerously close to rambling whilst attempting to cover rather serious matters.

Our story starts more than four months ago, when Ms. Michele Smith approached us on behalf of CRC Press. It's rather unclear if this was due to the somewhat comical potential of seeing the oddly hatted Beyond3D EIC slumped over a tome, or Willy's knowing look. Fact is that after a few short weeks, our bookly endowment had grown with two rather interesting volumes. For those that are unfamiliar with beasts as wondrous as as books, think of them as significantly better pdfs, which also bestow upon their reader tactile and olfactive stimuli, whilst keeping them away from Facebook et al.

Setting aside the flawed writer hat, it is time to don the analyst one. The two volumes we're speaking of are, in reading order, the following:

Scope and focus differences are quite apparent between our two paperback and respectively hardback bound heroes. We will seek to present a quick cross-section for each, so as to wet reading appetites left and right, under the clear restriction that it is nigh impossible to do a book proper justice in but a few words.